Hands Off

Bennett Security, Book 1

De: Hannah Shield

Narrado por: Aubrey Vincent, Connor Brown

To keep her safe, he has to keep his hands off…but she has other ideas.

When Aurora Bennett witnesses a murder by a ruthless Los Angeles crime boss, she ends up stuck in her apartment like she’s the one who committed the crime. Then a sexy new neighbor moves in, and he’s just the sort of bossy, broad-shouldered male that makes her crazy—in more ways than one.

Devon Whitestone can’t tell his neighbor Aurora the truth—that he’s actually a personal bodyguard hired by her brother, the owner of Bennett Security. Rule number one: don’t touch. When a dangerous crime syndicate paints a target on Aurora’s back, Devon swoops in to protect her, even though she insists on making his job as difficult as possible. He won't let her out of his sight. But he’s definitely not supposed to like what he sees.

This action-packed romantic suspense features a brooding ex-Army stud, his boss’s feisty younger sister, and heart-pounding danger… You won’t want to miss the explosive first book of the Bennett Security series!

©2022 Hannah Shield (P)2023 Podium Audio

It was my first bodyguard book!

4 stars :) I enjoyed it. I haven't read a body gaurd romance so that was something new.

Story line and narration

Had a plot in addition to the romance and the narration was great. Easy listening.

Great read!!

Great story! Kept me interested.
Didn’t want to put it down! Can’t wait to read more!

Lack of self preservation

I found it hard to fall for the romance of the story because Aurora was so stupid. She did everything and anything to put herself in further danger making everyone’s effort to protect her for nothing as very obvious why anyone would fall for Devon, but I could not understand why anyone would fall for Aurora. I kept pleading that the bad guys would win and take her out.

Aurora’s behavior is disturbing to me

Story went from 5 stars to 3 stars because of Aurora’s disgusting behavior towards Devon. She had no respect for his decisions whatsoever. It doesn’t matter what someone’s reason for not having sex is, if they say they don’t want to you need to respect that. Just because someone is physically attracted to you and gets turned on by yo doesn’t mean they want to have sex with you. He had moral reasons for not wanting it and she didn’t respect that and kept trying to push herself on him. If roles were reversed, people wouldn’t find this acceptable.

Solid story and sound!

The voices were perfect and the story was a classic! Will be listening to the rest!

Loved this book!

Literally could not stop listening. Wonderfully sassy with a side of hot hot hot! Can’t wait to read more

Very entertaining story and performance

I really enjoyed these characters, the suspense, and the action, and the way the writing kept the story moving at a good pace. The romance added to the story. The book and the performance are very entertaining!!

Excellent plot

I loved the story, interesting, plot twists, love, sex but not too raunchy, good performances.

Penthouse Proximity: When Protection Turns Personal

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌏
Character development: 😋🙂😘🥰🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Aurora Bennett

Aurora Bennett is determined to build her party planning business on her own terms, even if that means pushing back against her overprotective older brother Max. Her first big event at the Lighthouse Club feels like a win—until she suspects Max had a hand in securing the gig. When her payment comes in at double the quoted rate, Aurora’s instincts scream “interference.” Her attempt to return the excess lands her in the middle of a murder scene, and suddenly, independence takes a backseat to survival.

🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero Spotlight: Devon Whitestone

Devon Whitestone carries the weight of legacy and loss. Raised in a cop family, he chose the Army Rangers over the LAPD, but tragedy pulled him back to civilian life. After his twin brother Kellan was murdered, Devon left the military to support his grieving family and joined Bennett Security. Now stationed in West Oaks, he’s tasked with protecting Aurora—undercover, across the hall, and under strict “hands-off” orders from her brother Max.

🔥 Plot Pulse

Aurora’s life is upended when whispers spread about a woman witnessing the murder. She’s adamant about keeping Max out of her business, but Max has other plans—namely, installing Devon as her secret neighbor-bodyguard. Devon’s assignment is clear: protect Aurora without getting involved. But proximity breeds tension, and Aurora’s penthouse becomes the epicenter of danger, desire, and defiance.

❤️‍🔥 What Hit Home

• Devon’s internal tug-of-war between duty and desire is palpable. Max’s “Hands Off” decree adds delicious tension to every charged moment between him and Aurora.
• The emotional stakes are high, not just from the murder plot, but from the layered grief and loyalty that shape Devon’s choices.

🤨 Room to Grow

• Aurora insists she’s not a pampered princess, but her reactions sometimes say otherwise. Her emotional arc could use a bit more grounding to match her grit.
• Devon’s alias “Rick Harrison” is unintentionally hilarious. Unless he’s moonlighting on Pawn Stars, it’s a distracting choice.
• Max’s controlling streak veers into overbearing territory. Even after discovering the romance, his grip on Aurora’s autonomy feels more patriarchal than protective.

🎧 Narration Vibes

Narrated in dual POV by Connor Brown and Aubrey Vincent.

• Connor Brown’s voice is rich and commanding, though it skews older than Devon’s character. Still, he nails the emotional beats.
• Aubrey Vincent brings vulnerability and fire to Aurora’s chapters, though her tone occasionally tips into whiny territory. It’s a minor distraction in an otherwise emotive performance.

📝 Final Thoughts

A tense, emotionally layered romantic suspense with a heroine fighting for agency and a hero torn between loyalty and longing. The narration adds depth, even if the casting isn’t pitch-perfect. If you’re into protective heroes, sibling drama, and heroines who refuse to be coddled, this one delivers.